feeling alone - can’t find an LMC

Yeah snorting coke is probably not such a bright idea but heard injecting into your eyeball is okay....

I am kidding of course!!

Did you get a Bounty pack from your doctor? Probably not if they don't do maternity care. Have a look at this website: http://www.bounty.co.nz/home/home

I think a lot of first time mums have no idea what they are doing - me for one! Basically the internet and the library became my friend.

There's a NZ Pregnancy Book - head into Whitcoulls and get a copy. It's great being NZ based and gives you all the relevant, up to date info.

And CONGRATULATIONS!!!

littlestar wrote: Otherwise this website is a useful place to start - there are loads of people online all the time and someone always knows the answer!

the problem is, i don't know the question.

for example, I just stumbled apon a section of a website entitled "aromatherapy" where it mentions i shouldn't be having hot spa baths -- i have been doing this, because it helps the pain.

If i hadn't read the aromatherapy info, i wouldn't have known

it's all a giant scavenger hunt to find the warnings hidden across the web.

Big congrats on your pregnancy and it is a shame they can only see you at 15 weeks but for now:

Do a search on the internet for foods to avoid:

Important ones is not to eat anything that is in deli's or been prepared beforehand.

Anything like cottage cheese ect if you open it consume it on the same day.

All meat needs to be cooked thoroughly and no to any raw or even medium cooked food and it needs to be eaten piping hot.

Then if you get sick dont take any medication without seeing the dr. Panadol is fine to take but you cant overdose on it. Dont even take natural remedies unless you see a dr and he okays it.

Extreme hot baths is not allowed as it raises your temp too much.

You can continue to exercise but take it easy. Dont do too much and when you get tired take it easy.

If you experience any bleeding get yourself into a DR or A&E immediately.

And for now just relax and you can do some reading. There is some great information out that goes on about how your baby develops each week.

Also see your GP to get a referral for the 12 week scan where they check for certain things and ask for more information about these tests. Also get a bloodtest done. Your GP will know which ones should be done.

No drinking of alcohol. Smoking and drugs is bad for baby. Limited amoutns of caffeine (certain teas have this in as well as well as certain drinks ect)

Hope it helps. And if you are unsure then ask any of the people on here.

Just to confirm with the GP's. I went to the GP for a scan referral when I was six weeks, paid and then went again when I was 8 weeks. When the receptionist realised I was pregnant she told me that all GP visits were free until 12 weeks because from 12 weeks on you should have your LMC (realise this is not the case for you). She refunded me for my first visit. I had no idea it was free but it was great that she told me (sure it means heaps of paperwork for them!)

Also, do MW's do waiting lists? I had an OB who worked with the Wellington Hospital midwifes and found them to be brilliant. Good Luck

Yeah - its hard to know where to start (there are all sorts of things you never realised were important)
Pick up a book from the shops or a library - I bought the 'what to expect when you are expecting' and was given a copy of the NZ pregancy book. I felt heaps more comfortable after reading through them.

Also - go to the bounty website and order a bounty pack - its got a little book in it what covers pregnancy week by week and its free!!

Edited by littlestar

Congratulations on your pregnancy Shiny! I was in the same position as you, my GP visits were free up to 12 weeks and then i went through the antenatal clinic at the hospital. One of the many MWs i phoned put me on to the AN clinic and i stayed with that until 30 weeks and then an independant MW found a spot for me.
My Dr gave me the Bounty pack info and recommended books etc for me to use (i got the NZ pregnancy one too). AN clinic referred me for my scans too. Maybe phone the hospital and see if they have an AN clinic? Got a bit confusing seeing different people each time and being given different advice but it worked out okay
I kept phoning all the MWs every couple of weeks to see if any spaces had come up with people moving or whatever.
Hope you get one soon, i agree though, reading all the information about a LMC is depressing when you dont have one. I found coming on here helpful

Just re. the spa bath thing....I asked my MW about this, as we got married when I was almost 12 weeks and the hotel room had a spa and maaaaaan was I looking forward to it. She said it was fine as long as it wasn't too hot, and if I felt my heart rate picking up or I started to sweat, then time was up. I had it quite warm and managed to stay in there for about 20 - 25 minutes reading a book before I started to sweat and then I got out.

Not all GP's are free for early pregnancy appointments. Before I got a LMC, I rang to make and appointment with my GP and luckily I double checked with the receptionist if there was no charge, as she said I had to pay normal fee. My sister who is GP couldn't believe it as the practice she worked for was free, so rang them and investigated again for me, and they said didn't bother taking up the agreement to provide free care as they would loose money on it as the $150 per person subsidy wasn't enough.

Anyway enough about that - all the best for you during your pregnancy, there are a lot of resources out there, some of it is just common sense really.